Its amazing the the bias some people carry around when it comes to Metallica. There is just a huge number of people who will never forgive them for not being the same band they were in 1987. Like they have no right to change. Its ridiculous.

Take this thread for example. If Metallica soften their sound, they are sell outs and pussy's. If they write something heavier, its a pathetic attempt for credibility. There will never be redemption in the eyes of some "fans" They simply won't allow it.

This is a band that released 4 metal masterpieces one after another. Where could they go from there? what was their left to do? How many times do you want them to release a puppets clone? If they kept doing what they were doing. They'd quickly become a nostalgia act. If you want the same album over & over again. Go listen to AC/DC.

Instead of allowing their stuff to get stale. They then turned their attention to Rock. And released a timeless classic of a hard rock album. Which pretty much made them the biggest band on earth. They had accomplished everything they ever wanted. What then? Well, they simply continued down the path they had turned down. Which is why the reaction to Load always baffled me. Its not really a drastic step from The Black Album.

And the truth is, while all contain flaws. There is quality to be found on every release post Black. But too many people are just searching for reasons to hate them. And of course they'll always find some.

I plead ignorance concerning Metallica. I only hear them when I visit my nephew who says that "One" is the greatest song ever. However, I thought most of the ill-will was directed toward Internet file-sharing, etc., and their campaign against it.

There was a time when Metallica was not so well known. In order to gain popularity Metallica would give out tapes and ask the reciepients to pass it around to their friends. At that time it was about the music and lifestyle. Years laters when Lars was a self-important asshole and Metallica had long ceased to create the precise and rythmic metal that made them famous, the group decided that they would, together, start a war against Napster for doing, essentially, what they made themselves famous by. For me, that says that somewhere along the line the band stopped caring so much about what music really is, the art form.

Wrt their more recent albums, specifically St. Anger, changing your sound can be okay, but dumbing yourself down is not.

I find that point of view ridiculous.

I disagreed with the way Metallica went about it, (It just looks bad when you are attacking your own fans) but their point is clear, obvious and completely justified.

To even suggest that they don't have every right to be pissed that their music is being given away for free without their approval, concent or control is ludicris.

All they wanted was to be able to choose what they give away for free and what they want you to pay for.

quote:

Originally posted by Mike:
There was a time when Metallica was not so well known. In order to gain popularity Metallica would give out tapes and ask the reciepients to pass it around to their friends. At that time it was about the music and lifestyle. Years laters when Lars was a self-important asshole and Metallica had long ceased to create the precise and rythmic metal that made them famous, the group decided that they would, together, start a war against Napster for doing, essentially, what they made themselves famous by. For me, that says that somewhere along the line the band stopped caring so much about what music really is, the art form.

Wrt their more recent albums, specifically St. Anger, changing your sound can be okay, but dumbing yourself down is not.

Yes. Metallica is the be-all end-all metal band for me, outside of Finnish death metal, but the napster thing and the o-we're-in-therapy-now-pity-us thing make me cringe. Isn't metal about working out your problems? About being flawed and not being ashamed about it?

St. Anger is an ok album, but don't expect me to put it on the same mix as Ride the Lightning or the Black Album (my favorite of their albums, as it is the most accessible.)

OMG i LOVE metallica!!! The live albums:
Live Shit:Binge and Purge
S & M
They just own 2 i cant stop listening to Metallica and never get bored of theyr songs. They are so \M/ (devil horns)

The only problem is St.Anger. it is a bit crap in my opinion. Although i like the song St.Anger, the album sux lol the old ones wer a lot better

Metallica is as great now, as they were in 1983. The sell-outs are the fans who can't let go of the past and evolve with the band. Metallica has every right to protect their music from copyright infringement.

quote:

Originally posted by MetalKid:
Metallica is as great now, as they were in 1983.

Really? You really believe this? You would argue that St. Anger is as good as Ride the Lightning or Kill 'em All?

quote:

Originally posted by ezatldude:

quote:

Originally posted by MetalKid:
Metallica is as great now, as they were in 1983.

Really? You really believe this? You would argue that St. Anger is as good as Ride the Lightning or Kill 'em All?

That's why his name is metalkid, not metalman. He still has much to learn.

quote:

Originally posted by ezatldude:

quote:

Originally posted by MetalKid:
Metallica is as great now, as they were in 1983.

Really? You really believe this? You would argue that St. Anger is as good as Ride the Lightning or Kill 'em All?

Yes, st. anger is as good as Ride the Lightning and Kill'em All. st. anger is a work of art. I respect Metallica for experimenting with new sounds and taking chances.

quote:

Originally posted by willie nelson mandela:
That's why his name is metalkid, not metalman. He still has much to learn.

willie, it's too bad you don't have anything more constructive to say.

I eat, slept and breathed Metallica back in the 80s. Brilliant band, loads of integrity. They always sounded like they were playing as if their lives depended on it (even though they weren't virtuosos). You had to admire them.

Nowadays - what exactly are they trying to do? They sound like they should have split up 20 years ago and the agony is prolongued every year.

I have likened them to Spinal Tap on another thread. Maybe Rick Rubin, will provide them with the equivalent of 'Sex Farm' and they'll embark on a succesful tour of Japan. Considering that dreadful rockumentary, 'Sex Farm' is the next logical step.

I've said it many times, but they should split and do solo projects. The band died long.

quote:

Originally posted by MetalKid:

quote:

Originally posted by willie nelson mandela:
That's why his name is metalkid, not metalman. He still has much to learn.

willie, it's too bad you don't have anything more constructive to say.

Yeah, it's really too bad, I'll have to work on it.

I love Metallica, but this is really bad.

*shudders*

I've heard people banging on tin-cans in an alley-way get better drum-tones than St. Anger. Seriously, all i heard was drums, drums, drums. And Lars isn't anything special at drums either (even he would admit it back in the day, stating that he was never taught or anything).

Anypoo, Metallica USED to kick some serious ass. They need to grow out their hair and start pounding booze like their glory-days in my book. Working with Rick Robinson or Ross Rubin is pretty much a death-knell and completely indicative of losing all credibility (rf. Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit, Staind). They need to bring back the hair, the riffs, and the satan. They are the Samson of rock music.

I know it's Rick Rubin and Ross Robinson, but they're the same person to me.

If a band has ever made something great, I will always give their new album a chance, no matter how disappointed I was with the previous release, *coughs!*St. Anger*coughs!*

That being said, you can preview some of what’s going on with their new album here: www.missionmetallica.com

Some of it sounds similar to Reload, which I liked, but there was a riff that sounded a bit more on the vein of Black, so here's hoping.

quote:

Originally posted by CleverName84:
They are the Samson of rock music.

That made me laugh. Well observed.

Although wouldn't Samson be the Samson of rock music?

I just read that Metallica's new album
"Death Magnetic" will be released in
Sept. 2008. I don't know if this information
is accurate. But, i am definitely looking forward
to their next album.

'Death Magnetic'

I hope that title doesn't turn out to be prophetic. Time will tell I suppose. Aside from financial gain, there doesn't seem to be much incentive for the band to keep going. The use of certain producers who specialize in comeback albums speaks volumes.

Let's hope it leads to something truly great this time. I don't think the band will survive another critical mauling.